Changeable electric light device



Filed Jan. 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Charlgr Bazaars Z5 Z514 25 BY 25 I213 :4TTORNEY y 9 6- c BOWERS 2,041,539

CHANGEAB LE ELECTRIC LIGHT DEVICE Filed Jan. 30 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I aummaw INVENTOR. (hark Boar/en? 7 6/1; ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1,936

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE per cent to William Saal, New York, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1931, Serial No. 512,271

Claims.

My invention relates to electric light devices and refers particularly to devices adapted for the production of a plurality of desired electric light effects.

While the value of electric signs for advertising purposes is generally recognized and their adoption is extended, the cost'of such devices and the multiplicity of wires necessary where a great number of electric light bulbs is employed has limited their application to certain classes of employment.

It is evident that if the cost of such devices can be materially decreased and their method of application be greatly simplified, their use would be extended in the fields in which they are now employed and many other uses would be found for their adoption.

The object of my invention, therefore, is a device of economic construction and possessing 0 simplicity and rapidity of action, whereby, any

desired electric light effects may be produced.

Among the objectionable features incident to the present employed devices of the described character are, the excessive cost of construction, the large number of wires necessary for connecting each electric light bulb to a source of electric current, the expensive and delicate mechanism necessary for the change of electric effects, the liability of imperfect performance due to the number of wires and operating parts, the necessity of constant expert attention and the cost incident to devices accomplishing a change of light effects.

The device of my invention overcomes the above mentioned, and other, objectionable features of changeable electric signs and presents a means whereby changeable electric light effects can be obtained by economic devices in an effective manner without the necessity of expert operators, all of which are evident upon a consideration of my specification and its accompanying drawings; in which similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one form of the device of my invention in closed position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in open position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the line 33 of Figure 1.

The particular form of the device of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a casing frame part Ill, I0, Ill, and a casing frame part II, II, II, the two casing frames being attached to each other by the hinges I2, I2, I2.

Fixedly attached to the inner face of the frame ID, ID, Ill, which is shown as comprising an insulating plate, is an electrical energizing plate I3, connected by a plurality of electrical wires I4, I4, I4, to a plate I5, which in turn is attached to an electrical wire I6 connected to a source of electric current (not shown).

Removably carried over the exposed inner face of the energizing plate I3 and slightly spaced therefrom is a perforated sheet of electrical insulating material I'I, through which there are a number of holes I8, I8, preferably positioned in the form of words or emblems. The sheet I! may be composed of any suitable electrically non conductive material, for example, fiber, cardboard, celluloid, or rubber.

This sheet I! is removably carried upon pins or studs which pass through its upper margin, as

clearly shown in Figure 2.

Passing through each hole I8 which is to be utilized in forming a desired design is a stud I9 having a head 28 abutting upon the energizing plate I3 and a head 2I extending beyond the outer face of insulating sheets H.

The casing frame II, II, II, carries a plate of electrical insulating material 22 and an outwardly exposed energizing plate 23, the latter being connected by the wire 24 to a source of electric current (not shown) with respect to each other.

An electric light bulb 25 is screw threaded within each hole in the energizing plate 23, and abuts upon a fuse 26, the other end of the fuse wire ending in a contact spring 2! carried by the fuse and capable of abutment upon a stud head The casing frame part I0, I0, I0 carries the two shoulder fastening members 28, 28, each capable of receiving a pivotal fastening member 29, shown as a screw clamp, carried by the easing frame part II, II, II, a pin 30 maintaining the pivotal member 29 in position when the easing is closed.

The two extended spacing members 3|, 3| prevent the sheet H from abutting upon the sheet 22. The hinges I2, I2, I2 also perform this function.

The operation of my device is as follows:-

When it is desired to produce desired words, or emblems, by means of the electric light bulbs 25, 25, a sheet I! having the desired words, or emblems, set forth on said sheet I! by means of a plurality of studs I9, I9, is placed within the casing ID, ID, and the two casings closed and locked.

The electric current thus passes through the wire Hi, the energizing plate I3, the studs l9, Hi, the abutting fuse springs 21, 21, the fuses 25, 26, the bulbs 25, 25, the energizing plate 23 and the wire 24 to the source of electric current, thus completing the circuit and illuminating those bulbs whose fuse springs are in contact with the studs, the bulbs 25A, 25A, 25A of Figure 3 being thus connected. F

It will thus be seen that all that is necessary to change the appearance of the lights, is to place a desired, studded sheet I! into the casing and close the device, such sheets being capable of preservation for re-use as desired.

The studded sheets can be easily and economically produced by outlining the words or designs upon a sheet of paper plotted to indicate the position of the abuttable fuse springs and inserting studs along the outline at the places indicated, which can be accomplished by hand or by any suitable mechanism.

It is to be noted that only two electric wires are necessary, thus avoiding the multiplicity of wires usually incident to a plurality of electric light bulbs.

It is to be further noted that a change of electric lighteffects is produced rapidly, easily and without the employment of expert or experienced operators, as all that is necessary is to open the casings, remove the used studded sheet, insert a new one and close the device.

My invention, therefore, presents a device for the rapid, effective and economical production of a plurality of electric light effects.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number, arrangement, or material of parts particularly shown and described as these are given simply as ameans for clearly describing the device of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a changeable electric light sign device, in combination, a front conductive contact plate having through it a field of holes which form sockets for a display field of electric light bulbs having central contacts, a rear conductive contact plate in rearwardly spaced parallel relation with said front contact plate, said plates being adapted to be connected respectively to opposite sides of a source of electric energy, removable and replaceable selective circuit controlling means interposed between said contact plates and adapted to form electrical connection between said rear contact plate and the central contacts of selected bulbs in the socket holes of said front contact plate, a front frame part carrying said front conductive contact plate, a rear frame part carrying said rear conductive contact plate, a hinge connection between said frame parts, and clamping means adapted to draw said hinged frame parts and contact plates together upon said interposed selective circuit controlling means. V

2. In a changeable electric light sign device, in combination, a front conductive contact plate having through it a field of holes which form sockets for a display field of electric light bulbs having central contacts, a rear conductive contact plate in rearwardly spaced parallel relation with said front contact plate, said plates being adapted to be connected respectively to opposite sides of a source of electric energy, removable and replaceable selective circuit controlling means interposed between said contact plates and adapted to form electrical connection between said rear contact plate and the central contacts of selected bulbs in the socket holes of said front contact plate, a front frame part comprising an electrically insulating plate carrying said front conductive contact plate on its for- Ward face and having through it a field of holes respectively in registering alignment with the socket holes through said front contact plate,

a rear frame part comprising an electrically insulating plate carrying said rear conductive contact plate on its forward face, a hinge connection between said frame parts, clamping means adapted to draw said hinged frame parts and contact plates together upon said interposed selective circuit controlling means, and a plurality of resiliently yieldable conductive contact elements removably and replaceably slidable into and out of respective holes through the insulating plate of said front frame part at the rear thereof and adapted to be interposed between said selective circuit controlling means and the central contacts of said bulbs in the socket holes of said front conductive contact plate.

3. In a changeable electric light sign device, in combination, a front conductive contact plate having through it a field of holes which form sockets for a display field of electric light bulbs having central contacts, a rear conductive contact plate in rearwardly spaced parallel relation with said front contact plate, said plates being adapted to be connected respectively to opposite sides of a source of electric energy, removable and replaceable selective circuit controlling means interposed between said contact plates and adapted to form electrical connection be tween said rear contact plate and the central contacts of selected bulbs in the socket holes of said front contact plate, a front frame part comprising an electrically insulating plate carrying said front conductive contact plate on its forward face and having through it a field of holes respectively in registering alignment with the socket holes through said front contact plate, a rear frame part comprising an electrically insulating plate carrying said rear conductive contact plate on its forward face, and means adapted to provide for the relative movement of said frame parts together with said contact plates carried thereby out of and into opposed cooperating relation with each other and with said interposed selective circuit controlling means, a plurality of resiliently yieldable conductive contact elements removably and replaceably slidable into and out of respective holes through the insulating plate of said front frame part at the rear thereof and adapted to be interposed between said selective circuit con trolling means and the central contacts of said bulbs in the socket holes of said front conductive contact plate.

4. In a changeable electric light sign device, in combination, a front conductive contact plate having through it a field of holes which form sockets for a display field of electric light bulbs, having central contacts, a rear conductive contact plate in rearwardly spaced parallel relation with said front contact plate, said plates being adapted tobe connected respectively to opposite sides of a source of electric energy, removable and replaceable selective circuit controlling means interposed between said contact plates and adapted to form electrical connection between said rear contact plate and the central contacts of selected bulbs in the socket holes of said front contact plate, a front frame part comprising an electrically insulating plate carrying said front conductive contact plate on its forward face and having through it a field of holes respectively in registering alignment with the socket holes through said front contact plate, a rear frame part comprising an electrically insulating plate carrying said rear conductive contact plate on its forward face, a hinge connection between said frameparts, and clamping means adapted to draw said hinged frame parts and contacts plates together upon said interposed selective circuit controlling means.

5. In a changeable electric light sign device,

in combination, a front conductive contact plate having through it a field of holes which forms sockets for a display field of electric lightcbulbs having central contacts, a rear conductive contact plate in rearwardly spaced parallel relation with said front contact plate, said plates being adapted to be connected respectively to opposite sides of a source of electric energy, removable and replaceable selective circuit controlling means interposed between said contact plates and adapted to form electrical connection between said rear contact plate and the central contacts of selected bulbs in the socket holes of said front contact plate, and means connecting said contact plates together for relative movement providing for the insertion and removal of said selective circuit controlling means while maintaining a connection between them when so moved.

CHARLEY BOWERS. 

